Air conditioning system

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning system ( 10 ) using a refrigerant fluid ( 102 ) and a cooling liquid, the air conditioning system ( 10 ) comprising: a first compartment ( 22 ) defining a first air inlet ( 31 ) and a first air outlet ( 33 ) and a first ventilator ( 28 ) for creating a first air flow ( 35 ) through the first compartment ( 22 ) from the first air inlet ( 31 ) to the first air outlet ( 33 ); a first heat exchange unit ( 16 ) provided in the first compartment ( 22 ) for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid ( 102 ) and the first air flow ( 35 ) when the refrigerant fluid ( 102 ) is circulated through the first heat exchange unit ( 16 ); a second heat exchange unit ( 14 ) also provided in the first compartment ( 22 ) for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid ( 102 ) and the first air flow ( 35 ) when the refrigerant fluid ( 102 ) is circulated through the second heat exchange unit ( 14 ), the second heat exchange unit ( 14 ) being provided downstream from the first heat exchange unit ( 16 ) relatively to the first air flow ( 35 ), the second heat exchange unit ( 14 ) being in fluid communication with the first heat exchange unit ( 16 ) for allowing circulation of the refrigerant fluid ( 102 ) from the second heat exchange unit ( 14 ) to the first heat exchange unit ( 16 ). The second heat exchange unit ( 14 ) is a desuperheater in which the refrigerant fluid ( 102 ) is cooled down by the first air flow ( 35 ) while remaining gaseous and the first heat exchange unit ( 16 ) is a condenser in which the refrigerant fluid ( 102 ) condenses when cooled by the first air flow ( 35 ).

This application claims priority from GB Patent Application No.1000017.2 on Jan. 4, 2010

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an air conditioning systemand method, and more specifically to such a system including adesuperheater.

BACKGROUND

Central air conditioning systems are known in the art and are useful forproviding air quality related conditioning functions such as, forexample, ventilation, heating, cooling, humidifying, dehumidifying,filtering and air renewal functions to the interior living spaces ofprivate and public buildings.

Central air conditioning systems of the prior art are typicallyrepresented by a plurality of conventional air conditioning componentssuch as, for examples, air filters, ventilator fans and motors,compressor units, condensers, evaporators, refrigerant circuits,air-to-air heat exchangers, air heaters, pressure control switches,solenoid valves, water sprinklers, room thermostats, humidistats, andthe like.

While these prior art systems generally offer a central air conditioningsystem that controls the temperature, humidity and rate of renewal ofthe ambient air in a given living space, they also entail one maindisadvantage in that they may use considerable interior space wheninstalled, for example, in relatively small residence units such ascondominiums and apartments, for example.

Because of the heating/cooling BTU load design for a given interiorliving space, the combined air conditioning components, including thesystem itself and its correspondingly sized network of intake andexhaust air ducts, are typically space consuming and, thus, often occupya whole room space. In other installations, the various components ofthe air conditioning system may be dispersed in more than one room thatare dedicated in whole or in part to conditioning the ambient air of theinterior spaces.

Also, the space constraints in relatively small living spaces such ascondominiums, apartments, small homes, business offices and the likes,are now even more exacerbated by new building rules to optimize energyefficiency. For example, more and more municipalities now require by lawthat every new units in a housing or condominium project have theircentral air conditioning system equipped with a heat exchanger, such asan air-to-air heat exchanger or the likes. Such heat exchangersgenerally require the provision of an additional minimum interior spacewithin the housing unit.

Furthermore, to maximize their return on investment, the housingcontractors are always on the lookout for new space efficient design fortheir housing units such that more and more housing units can be buildon less and less surface space.

Against this background, there exists a need for a new and improved airconditioning systems and methods It is a general object of the presentinvention to provide a new and improved air conditioning system andmethod.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a broad aspect, the invention provides an air conditioning systemusing a refrigerant fluid and a cooling liquid, the air conditioningsystem comprising: a first compartment, the first compartment defining afirst air inlet and a first air outlet; a substantially elongated firstair outlet duct in fluid communication with the first air outlet, thefirst air outlet duct defining a first duct longitudinal axis; a firstventilator operatively coupled to the first air inlet and the first airoutlet for creating a first air flow through the first compartment andthe first air outlet duct from the first air inlet through the first airoutlet and into the first air outlet duct; a first heat exchange unitprovided in the first compartment for allowing heat exchange between therefrigerant fluid and the first air flow when the refrigerant fluid iscirculated through the first heat exchange unit; a second heat exchangeunit also provided in the first compartment for allowing heat exchangebetween the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when therefrigerant fluid is circulated through the second heat exchange unit,the second heat exchange unit being provided downstream from the firstheat exchange unit relatively to the first air flow, the second heatexchange unit being in fluid communication with the first heat exchangeunit for allowing circulation of the refrigerant fluid from the secondheat exchange unit to the first heat exchange unit; a third heatexchange unit provided in the first air outlet duct for allowing heatexchange between the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when therefrigerant fluid is circulated through the third heat exchange unit,the third heat exchange unit being in fluid communication with thesecond heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of the refrigerantfluid from the third heat exchange unit to the second heat exchangeunit, the third heat exchange unit extending along the first air outletduct, the third heat exchange unit being angled with respect to thefirst duct longitudinal axis; a first liquid sprinkler providedsubstantially adjacent the first and second heat exchange units, thefirst liquid sprinkler being positioned, configured and sized forsimultaneously sprinkling the cooling liquid onto both the first andsecond heat exchange units; a second compartment, the second compartmentdefining a second air inlet and a second air outlet; a second ventilatoroperatively coupled to the second air inlet and the second air outletfor creating a second air flow through the second compartment from thesecond air inlet to the second air outlet; a compressor unit in fluidcommunication with the third heat exchange unit for compressing therefrigerant fluid to produce a compressed refrigerant fluid in gas phaseand providing the compressed refrigerant fluid to the third heatexchange unit; an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant fluid andallowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the second airflow, the evaporator being provided in the second compartmentsubstantially across the second air flow, the evaporator being in fluidcommunication with the compressor and the first heat exchange unit forreceiving the refrigerant fluid from the first heat exchange unit andreleasing the refrigerant fluid to the compressor. The second and thirdheat exchange units are desuperheaters in which the refrigerant fluid iscooled down by the first air flow while remaining gaseous and the firstheat exchange unit is a condenser in which the refrigerant fluidcondenses when cooled by the first air flow.

In another broad aspect, the invention provides an air conditioningsystem using a refrigerant fluid and a cooling liquid, the airconditioning system comprising: a first compartment, the firstcompartment defining a first air inlet and a first air outlet; asubstantially elongated first air outlet duct in fluid communicationwith the first air outlet, the first air outlet duct defining a firstduct longitudinal axis; a first ventilator operatively coupled to thefirst air inlet and the first air outlet for creating a first air flowthrough the first compartment and the first air outlet duct from thefirst air inlet through the first air outlet and into the first airoutlet duct; a first heat exchange unit provided in the firstcompartment for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid andthe first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through thefirst heat exchange unit; a second heat exchange unit also provided inthe first compartment for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerantfluid and the first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulatedthrough the second heat exchange unit, the second heat exchange unitbeing provided downstream from the first heat exchange unit relativelyto the first air flow, the second heat exchange unit being in fluidcommunication with the first heat exchange unit for allowing circulationof the refrigerant fluid from the second heat exchange unit to the firstheat exchange unit; a third heat exchange unit provided in the first airoutlet duct for allowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid andthe first air flow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through thethird heat exchange unit, the third heat exchange unit being in fluidcommunication with the second heat exchange unit for allowingcirculation of the refrigerant fluid from the third heat exchange unitto the second heat exchange unit, the third heat exchange unit extendingalong the first air outlet duct, the third heat exchange unit beingangled with respect to the first duct longitudinal axis; and a firstliquid sprinkler provided substantially adjacent the first and secondheat exchange units, the first liquid sprinkler being positioned,configured and sized for simultaneously sprinkling the cooling liquidonto both the first and second heat exchange units. Circulating thefirst air flow with the first ventilator and circulating the refrigerantfluid from the third heat exchange unit, through the second heatexchange unit and to the first heat exchange unit while sprinkling thefirst and second heat exchange units with the cooling liquid cools downthe refrigerant fluid when the refrigerant fluid is hotter than thefirst air flow.

In yet another broad aspect, the invention provides an air conditioningsystem using a refrigerant fluid and a cooling liquid, the airconditioning system comprising: a first compartment, the firstcompartment defining a first air inlet and a first air outlet; a firstventilator operatively coupled to the first air inlet and the first airoutlet for creating a first air flow through the first compartment andfrom the first air inlet to the first air outlet; a first heat exchangeunit provided in the first compartment for allowing heat exchangebetween the refrigerant fluid and the first air flow when therefrigerant fluid is circulated through the first heat exchange unit; asecond heat exchange unit also provided in the first compartment forallowing heat exchange between the refrigerant fluid and the first airflow when the refrigerant fluid is circulated through the second heatexchange unit, the second heat exchange unit being provided downstreamfrom the first heat exchange unit relatively to the first air flow, thesecond heat exchange unit being in fluid communication with the firstheat exchange unit for allowing circulation of the refrigerant fluidfrom the second heat exchange unit to the first heat exchange unit; acompressor unit in fluid communication with the second heat exchangeunit for compressing the refrigerant fluid to produce a compressedrefrigerant fluid in gas phase and providing the compressed refrigerantfluid to the second heat exchange unit; an evaporator for evaporatingthe refrigerant fluid, the evaporator being in fluid communication withthe compressor and the first heat exchange unit for receiving therefrigerant fluid from the first heat exchange unit and releasing therefrigerant fluid to the compressor The second heat exchange unit is adesuperheater in which the refrigerant fluid is cooled down by the firstair flow while remaining gaseous and the first heat exchange unit is acondenser in which the refrigerant fluid condenses when cooled by thefirst air flow.

In yet another broad aspect, the invention provides a method for coolinga refrigerant fluid in an air conditioning system using an air flow. Themethod includes compressing the refrigerant fluid in a gas phase; in afirst cooling step subsequent to compressing the refrigerant fluid,cooling the refrigerant fluid by transferring heat from the refrigerantfluid to the air flow with the refrigerant fluid remaining in the gasphase; and in a second cooling step subsequent to the first coolingstep, cooling the refrigerant fluid by transferring heat from therefrigerant fluid to the air flow with the refrigerant fluid condensingto a liquid phase. The air flow flows in a manner such that the air flowis used first in the second cooling step and then circulated to be usedin the first cooling step.

According to a first variant, the air conditioning system generallycomprises a main housing that incorporates, in a relatively small designand compact assembly, various air conditioning components. The airconditioning components generally include at least the compressor unit,the second heat exchange unit in the form of a desuperheater, the firstheat exchange unit in the form of a condenser and an evaporator, all ofwhich are linked sequentially through a plurality of refrigerantconduits which form a closed refrigerant circuit. In some embodiments ofthe invention, a pair of ventilator units, an air-to-air heat exchanger,an air heater, a plurality of intake and exhaust air ducts, and aplurality of other conventional air conditioning components such as, forexample, control switches, solenoid valves, water sprinklers, expansionvalve, and the likes complete the assembly of the system.

Advantageously, the desuperheater that is positioned upstream of thecondenser, relative to the flow of refrigerant through the circuit,while being inversely positioned downstream of the condenser, relativeto the air flow direction provided by a cooling ventilator, enhances theefficiency of the proposed air conditioning system.

Furthermore, in some embodiments of the invention, an automaticallyactivated liquid sprinkler, that for example sprinkles water, issuitably positioned between the desuperheater and the condenser suchthat, when the liquid sprinkler is activated, both the desuperheater andthe condenser receive a spray of cooling liquid simultaneously.

This particular arrangement of the desuperheater, condenser and watersprinkler may be used to provide a significant increase of the coolingBTU capacity of the air conditioning system relative to prior artsystems having comparably the same physical dimension. Inversely, suchan increase in cooling BTU capacity may thus allow for a central airconditioning system of the present invention having an overall designthat is relatively smaller than comparable systems of the prior arthaving comparable BTU capacity, since proportionally smaller compressorunit, as well as a proportionally lower flow rate of air, are requiredfor a given cooling BTU load design.

It is to be noted that a lower flow rate of air may also result in asignificant reduction in the sizing of the required ventilators andassociated network of air ducts associated with the system and thetarget living spaces.

According to a second variant, the central air conditioning systemaccording to the present invention is represented by a substantiallyequivalent central air conditioning system as the first variantdescribed above, except that the present variant includes the third heatexchange unit in the form of another desuperheater. The additionaldesuperheater is positioned upstream of the first desuperheater andcondenser, relative to the flow of refrigerant fluid through thecircuit, while being inversely positioned downstream of the condenserand first desuperheater, relative to the air flow direction provided bythe first cooling ventilator.

This particular configuration of the system that includes an additionaldesuperheater may be used to further provide a significant increase ofthe cooling BTU capacity of the system and, thus, allows for an evensmaller overall design of the system.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the two variants describedhereinabove may include substantially all the main components that canbe found in conventional central air conditioning systems of the priorart, integrated in a single and compact unit, as described above, forinstallation in a single location within the living space of a residenceunit. Or, they may have selected components distributed in more than onelocation within a living space, with suitably sized and configured airand refrigerant fluid conduits linking the distributed components forthe proper operation of the system.

Thus, there is provided a novel and unobvious system for conditioningthe ambient air of an interior living space. The air conditioning systemof the present invention being characterized in that it comprisessubstantially all the main components that can be found in conventionalcentral air conditioning systems of the prior art, while occupying asignificantly smaller volume, for example, an up to 60% smaller overallvolume, as compared to prior art central air conditioning systems havinga comparable BTU capacity and air conditioning characteristics. Thiseconomy of volume allowed by the various embodiments of the presentinvention may be achieved with all their components integrated in asingle and compact unit, or with the various components beingdistributed in more than one place within the living space of aresidence unit.

For example, while a conventional central air conditioning system of theprior art that is suitably sized for an average size condominium maytypically occupy a volume roughly equivalent to an average size, sixfoot tall (1.8 meters) clothing cabinet, in some embodiments, thepresent invention designed for a similar BTU heating/cooling load designand air conditioning characteristics may only occupy about a third (orabout 30%) of that volume.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention willbecome more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictivedescription of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of exampleonly with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, in a side cross-sectional view, illustrates an air conditioningsystem according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2, in a schematic view, illustrates the air conditioning system ofFIG. 1, here illustrating the circulation path of the refrigerantthrough the various components of the air conditioning system;

FIG. 3, in a fragmented top perspective view, illustrates a heatexchanger part of the air conditioning system of FIG. 1, here shown witha top cover portion thereof and a side wall portion thereof removed fora better view of its interior structure;

FIG. 4, in a a schematic top plan view, illustrates the heat exchangerof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5, in a an environmental side cross-sectional view, illustrates theair conditioning system of FIG. 1, here shown coupled to a first circuitconfiguration of air ducts;

FIG. 6, in an environmental side cross-sectional, illustrates the airconditioning system of FIG. 1, here shown coupled to a second circuitconfiguration of air ducts;

FIG. 7, in a side cross-sectional view, illustrates an air conditioningsystem according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8, in a schematic cross-sectional view, illustrates the airconditioning system of FIG. 7, here illustrating the circulation path ofthe refrigerant through the various components of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusively show various aspects of a first embodiment ofan air conditioning system 10 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Now referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the airconditioning system 10 generally comprises conventional refrigerationcomponents such as a compressor unit 12, a first heat exchange unit inthe form of a condenser 16, a second heat exchange unit in the form of adesuperheater 14 and an evaporator 18. The main housing 20 of the airconditioning system 10 is separated in two main compartments, namely afirst compartment 22 and a second compartment 24, that are substantiallyadjacent to each other and that are isolated from one another by acommon central wall 26 that is shared between them. The common centralwall 26 is typically relatively highly thermally insulated to reduceheat transfer between the first and second compartments 22 and 24. Thefirst compartment 22 houses the compressor unit 12, the desuperheater 14and the condenser 16, while the evaporator 18 is provided in the secondcompartment 24. However, in alternative embodiments of the invention,the compressor unit 12 is provided outside of the first compartment 22.

The first compartment defines a first air inlet 31 and a first airoutlet 33. The first compartment houses a first ventilator 28 that drawsair from a first air intake duct 30 in fluid communication with thefirst air inlet and creates a first air flow 35 that is blown throughthe first compartment 22 through the first air inlet 31. From there, thefirst air flow 35 is forced out, first, through the condenser 16,followed with through the desuperheater 14, and then out through thefirst air outlet 33. In other words, the first ventilator 28 isoperatively coupled to the first air inlet 31 and the first air outlet33 for creating the first air flow 35 (seen in FIG. 2) through the firstcompartment 22 from the first air inlet 31 to the first air outlet 33.

In some embodiments of the invention, a substantially elongated firstair outlet duct 32 extends from the first air outlet 33 and issubstantially vertically disposed along a vertical side wall of the airconditioning system 10 and. The first air outlet duct in fluidcommunication with the first air outlet 33 and defines a first ductlongitudinal axis 37. Since the first air outlet duct 32 is in fluidcommunication with the first air outlet 33, the first air flow 35 ispushed through the first air outlet duct 32.

The second compartment defines a second air inlet 39 and a second airoutlet 41. A second ventilator 34 is operatively coupled to the secondair inlet 39 and the second air outlet 41 for creating a second air flow43 (seen in FIG. 2) through the second compartment 24 from the secondair inlet 39 to the second air outlet 41. Typically, the secondcompartment 24 houses the second ventilator 34 that draws air from asecond air intake duct 36, that leads to the second air inlet 39, andcirculates the second air flow 43 through the evaporator 18, which istypically located in the second compartment across the second air flow43. The second ventilator 34 also circulates the second air flow 43through the second air outlet 41 and exhaust this air through a secondair outlet duct 38 that extends from, and is in fluid communicationwith, the second air outlet 41. The second air intake duct 36 may becovered by an air filter (not shown) slidably engaged between suitablyadapted support brackets 40. The second air intake duct 36 may furtherbe optionally covered with an air intake silencer box 42.

In some embodiments of the invention, the second air outlet duct 38includes an electric or hot water operated air heating element 44provided in the second air outlet duct 38 for selectively heating thesecond air flow 43.

An air-to-air heat exchanger 46 is typically attached to, and maysubstantially cover the bottom wall section of the main housing 20 ofthe air conditioning system 10. In these embodiments, the air-to-airheat exchanger 46 is therefore provided substantially adjacent the firstand second compartments 22 and 24 and extends substantiallyperpendicularly to the common central wall 26. FIG. 3 shows anair-to-air heat exchanger 46 having its top and a side wall removed fora better view of the interior structure, and FIG. 4 shows a top planview of the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 wherein the top wall section isillustrated in a transparent schematic view. Referring more specificallyto FIG. 3, the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 may be generally representedby a substantially low profile box-shaped housing having two maininternal compartments 48 and 50 that are divided by a pair of distallydisposed central wall portions 52. The central wall portions 52 are inturn separated by a substantially low profile box-shaped heat exchangermodule 54, represented schematically in FIG. 3, that is disposed at anangle in the horizontal plane, relative to the surrounding side wallsections 56 of the air-to-air heat exchanger 46. In turn, the top andbottom wall sections of the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 are sealedagainst the corresponding top and bottom wall sections of the heatexchanger module 54.

The heat exchanger module 54 has each of its distal end corners 58integrally joined with a corresponding central wall portion 52 or sidewall section 56. As can be observed in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger module54 includes a conventional stacked core formed by stacking a pluralityof unit plate members in each of which passage formation portions 60 and62 are formed independently of each other in a perpendicular cross-flowconfiguration.

A pair of intake air ports 64 and 66 are provided through oppositelydisposed side wall sections 56 of a first heat exchanger compartment 48.The pair of intake air ports 64 and 66 are preferably provided withinwardly directed one-way air valves 68.

An oppositely corresponding pair of exhaust air ports 70 and 72 areprovided through distal end portions of the top wall section (not shown)of the heat air-to-air exchanger 46. The exhaust air ports 70 and 72 arevisible in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, two distinct air passages are formed through theair-to-air heat exchanger 46, allowing a third air flow 74 to pass fromthe intake air port 64 to the correspondingly opposite exhaust air port70, and a separate, fourth air flow 76 to pass from the intake air port66 to the correspondingly opposite exhaust air port 72, with both thethird and fourth air flows 74 and 76 exchanging heat therebetweenthrough the internal heat exchanger module 54. Typically, the air-to-airheat exchanger 46 is operatively coupled to the first and secondcompartments 22 and 24 so that the third and fourth air flows 74 and 76are exhausted from the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 respectively in thefirst and second compartments 22 and 24.

With the air-to-air heat exchanger 46 suitably installed under thehousing 20 of the air conditioning system 10, as illustrated in FIG. 5,it can be observed that a return of interior warm air flow 78 comingfrom an ’ intake air duct 80 positioned, for example, in the shower roomof a condominium, is first vacuumed through the intake air port 66 ofthe air-to-air heat exchanger 46, then through the internal heatexchanger module 54, then through the opposite exhaust air port 72, thenthrough the first compartment 22 of the air conditioning system 10, andthen finally exhausted to the outside air 82 through the first airoutlet duct 32.

Conversely, a fresh flow of outside air 82 coming from, for example, anexterior intake air duct 84, is first vacuumed through the intake airport 64 of the air-to-air heat exchanger 46, then through the internalheat exchanger module 54, then through the exhaust air port 70, thenthrough the second compartment 24 of the air conditioning system 10, andthen finally exhausted to the inside air of the living spaces 86 of thecondominium through the exhaust air duct 45 of the air conditioningsystem 10.

Thus, a warm flow of interior air 78 may be exhausted from the interiorof a living space, and a fresh flow of outside air 82 may be drawn intothe living space while, at the same time, a portion of the heat of theexhausted warm air 78 is transferred to the fresh incoming outside air82.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate configuration of the air duct networkassociated with the air conditioning system 10, and in which a portionof the exhaust air propulsed by the second ventilator 34 is exhausteddirectly through the air-to-air heat exchanger 46. Thus, fresh outsideair 82, partially warmed-up through the air-to-air heat exchanger 46,may be injected back in the living spaces 86. In this embodiment, aportion of the second air flow. 43 is directed toward the air-to-airheat exchanger 46 with the third air flow 74 to allow heat exchangebetween the portion of the second air flow 43 and the fourth air flow76.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the compressor unit 12 is in fluidcommunication with the desuperheater 14 through a first refrigerantconduit 90 and is provided for compressing the refrigerant fluid 102 toproduce a compressed refrigerant fluid 102 in gas phase and providingthe compressed refrigerant fluid 102 to the desuperheater 14. Thedesuperheater 14 is in fluid communication with the condenser 16 througha second refrigerant conduit 92 for allowing circulation of therefrigerant fluid 102 from the desuperheater 14 to the condenser 16 andis provided in the first compartment 22 for allowing heat exchangebetween the refrigerant fluid 102 and the first air flow 35 when therefrigerant fluid 102 is circulated through the desuperheater 14, therefrigerant fluid 102 cooling down in the desuperheater 14 whileremaining gaseous. The condenser 16 is in fluid communication with theevaporator 18 through a third refrigerant conduit 94 and is provided inthe first compartment 22 for allowing heat exchange between therefrigerant fluid 102 and the first air flow 35 when the refrigerantfluid 102 is circulated through the condenser 16 with the refrigerantfluid 102 condensing in the condenser 16. In turn, the evaporator 18 isback in fluid communication with the compressor unit 12 through a fourthrefrigerant conduit 96 which, thus, closes the complete refrigerantcircuit of the air conditioning system 10. The evaporator 18 is providedfor evaporating the refrigerant fluid 102 and exchanging heat with thesecond air flow 43. The evaporator 18 is in fluid communication with thecompressor unit 12 and the condenser 16 for receiving the refrigerantfluid 102 from the condenser 16 unit and releasing the refrigerant fluid102 to the compressor unit 12.

Thus, the air provided by the first ventilator 28 forces the coolest airportion of the first air flow 35 first through the condenser 16,followed with through the desuperheater 14, since the condenser 16 isphysically positioned upstream relative to the first air flow 35.Inversely, the compressor unit 12 forces the hottest refrigerant fluid102 first through the desuperheater 14, followed with through thecondenser 16, since the desuperheater 14 is physically positionedupstream in the refrigerant circuit, relative to the flow direction ofthe refrigerant fluid 102 circulating therein.

This particular configuration of the desuperheater 14 and condenser 16and, relative to flow direction of the first air flow 35 provided by thefirst ventilator 28, and the flow direction of the refrigerant fluid 102forced by the compressor unit 12, allows the refrigerant fluid 102 to besignificantly cooled down by the desuperheater 14, prior to entering thecondenser 16, which is already receiving the coolest portion of thefirst air flow 35 from the first ventilator 28. The result is adesuperheater 14 and condenser 16 configuration that is particularlyenergy efficient.

Various regulation and control components complete the refrigerantcircuit of the air conditioning system 10. Thus, the first refrigerantconduit 90, at the output of the compressor unit 12, is in fluidcommunication with a pressure modulated speed control 104, forcontrolling the rotational speed of the first ventilator 28, a pressurecontrol switch 106, for controlling the solenoid control valve 108which, in turn, controls a first liquid sprinkler 110, and a highpressure control element 112.

The third refrigerant conduit 94, at the output of the condenser 16, isin fluid communication with typically a refrigerant filter 114, arefrigerant sight glass 116 and a refrigerant expansion valve 118.

In some embodiments of the invention, the first liquid sprinkler 110 isprovided substantially adjacent the desuperheater 14 and the condenser16, the first liquid sprinkler 110 being positioned, configured andsized for simultaneously sprinkling a cooling liquid, for example water,onto both the desuperheater 14 and the condenser 16. For example, thefirst liquid sprinkler 110 is suitably positioned and configured betweenthe desuperheater 14 and the condenser 16 such that both may receivecooling liquid droplets simultaneously, as best illustrated in FIG. 2.Thus, the first liquid sprinkler 110 may be advantageously activated inorder to provide a significant increase of the cooling BTU capacity ofthe air conditioning system 10.

In some embodiments of the invention, a second liquid sprinkler 120 isprovided substantially adjacent the evaporator 18, the second liquidsprinkler 120 being positioned, configured and sized for sprinkling thecooling liquid onto the evaporator 18. Typically, the second liquidsprinkler 120 is suitably positioned and configured proximal theevaporator 18. The second liquid sprinkler 120 is controlled by thesolenoid control valve 122 which, in turn, may be controlled, forexample, by a conventional room humidistat (not shown). When thesolenoid control valve 122 is activated, the second liquid sprinkler 120sprays water, or any other suitable liquid, on the evaporator 18 which,in turn, rises the humidity level within the living spaces conditionedby the air conditioning system 10, as well as improving the overallefficiency of the latter. Typically, a suitable condensation water drain(not shown) is provided to evacuate the excess condensate water from thefirst and second compartments 22 and 24 of the air conditioning system10.

Now referring more particularly to FIG. 2, a typical mode of operationof the air conditioning system 10 is generally described as follows.Once the compressor unit 12 is activated, the latter compresses andforces the refrigerant fluid 102 which, at this point is in a hot gas orvapor state, through the desuperheater 14. The desuperheater 14 removesa portion of the heat from the hot gas. The thus slightly cooled downrefrigerant fluid 102 then passes through the condenser 16 which, inturn, completes the cooling phase of the refrigerant fluid 102. Finally,the refrigerant fluid 102 passes through the evaporator 18 where itabsorbs heat from the relatively warm second air flow 43 forcedtherethrough by the second ventilator 34.

As heat is gradually absorbed over time by the refrigerant fluid 102passing through the evaporator 18, the pressure of the refrigerant fluid102 through the first refrigerant conduit 90 proportionally rises untilit exceeds a first predetermined pressure level. This firstpredetermined pressure level, once reached, triggers the pressuremodulated speed control 104 of the first ventilator 28. Thus, the firstventilator 28 draws air from the first air intake duct 30, which is influid communication with the outside air 82, and forces the thus createdfirst air flow 35 through the sequentially disposed condenser 16 anddesuperheater 14 respectively, at a modulated speed that issubstantially proportional to the pressure of the refrigerant fluid 102measured by the speed control 104. Hence, the pressure in the firstrefrigerant conduit 90 is substantially maintained at, or near a secondpredetermined pressure level for a proper operation of the airconditioning system 10.

If the outside air temperature or the refrigerant fluid 102 pressurekeep rising, such as during prolonged heatwave conditions, the firstventilator 28 may reach its maximum rated speed. Thus, the pressurecontrol switch 106 may eventually activates the solenoid control valve108 which, in turn, activates the first liquid sprinkler 110. Hence, thefirst liquid sprinkler 110 sprays the cooling liquid simultaneously onboth the desuperheater 14 and condenser 16 which, in turn, lowers downthe pressure and temperature of the hot gases in the refrigerant circuitin order to maintain an optimum performance of the air conditioningsystem 10.

In other words, the proposed air conditioning system 10 implements amethod for cooling a refrigerant fluid 102 in the air conditioningsystem 10 using the first air flow 35. The method includes compressingthe refrigerant fluid 102 in a gas phase, in a first cooling stepsubsequent to compressing the refrigerant fluid 102, cooling therefrigerant fluid 102 by transferring heat from the refrigerant fluid102 to the first air flow 35 with the refrigerant fluid 102 remaining inthe gas phase and, in a second cooling step subsequent to the firstcooling step, cooling the refrigerant fluid 102 by transferring heatfrom the refrigerant fluid 102 to the first air flow 35 with therefrigerant fluid 102 condensing to a liquid phase. The first air flow35 flows in a manner such that the first air flow 35 is used first inthe second cooling step and then circulated to be used in the secondcooling step. As the first air flow 35 circulates, the first air flow 35is heated by refrigerant fluid 102 having an increasing temperature.Typically, the method also includes evaporating the refrigerant fluid102 after the second cooling step, which typically involves reducing apressure of the refrigerant fluid 102. In some embodiments of theinvention, the first and second cooling steps are performed in separateheat exchange unit. However, in alternative embodiments of theinvention, these two cooling steps are performed in a single suitablyshaped heat exchange unit. In some embodiments of the invention, themethod also includes cooling the refrigerant fluid 102 by transferringheat from the refrigerant fluid 102 to the cooling liquid, thisadditional cooling being typically performed substantiallysimultaneously both with the first and second cooling steps.

Thus, the desuperheater 14 and the first liquid sprinkler 110 may beused individually or in combination to provide a significant increase ofthe cooling BTU capacity of the air conditioning system 10. Such anincrease in cooling BTU capacity may thus allow for a air conditioningsystem 10 having an overall design that is relatively smaller thancomparable systems of the prior art since a proportionally smallercompressor unit 12, as well as a proportionally lower flow rate of airin the first air flow 35 are required for a given cooling BTU loaddesign.

It is to be noted that a lower flow rate of the first air flow 35 mayresult in a significant reduction in the sizing of the required firstand second ventilators 28 and 34, and associated air ducts throughoutthe air conditioning system 10 and the target living spaces. Forexamples, standard 8 inches (about 20 cm) air ducts may be reduced toonly 6 inches (about 15 cm) air ducts, which results in a significantspace saving advantage in relatively small living spaces such ascondominiums and apartments.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, another air conditioning system 130 inaccordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention issubstantially identical to the above-described described airconditioning system 10, except that it is provided with a third heatexchange unit in the form of an additional desuperheater 132 that isphysically positioned downstream of the first desuperheater 14 and thecondenser 16, relative to the first air flow 35 direction provided bythe first ventilator 28.

Inversely, the additional desuperheater 132 is positioned upstream ofthe first desuperheater 14 and condenser 16, relative to the flow ofrefrigerant fluid 102 circulating through the refrigerant circuit. Inother words, the refrigerant fluid 102 is compressed and forced, by thecompressor unit 12, first through the additional desuperheater 132,where a first portion of the heat in the refrigerant fluid 102 isremoved with the refrigerant fluid 102 remaining in a gas phase, thenthrough the first desuperheater 14, where another portion of the heat inthe refrigerant fluid 102 is removed, then finally through the condenser16, where the cooling phase of the refrigerant fluid 102 is completed.

The additional desuperheater 132 is preferably an elongated version ofthe first desuperheater 14 that extends along and is disposed in adiagonal configuration relative to the longitudinal first air outletduct 32 in which it is installed, angled with respect to the first ductlongitudinal axis 37, as best illustrated in FIG. 7.

It is to be noted that the additional desuperheater 132 may be installedin any elongated configuration of a first air outlet duct that isdisposed downstream of the first desuperheater 14, relative to the airflow direction 100.

The additional desuperheater 132 results in a further increase incooling BTU capacity of the air conditioning system 130, as compared tothe first embodiment described above. Such an increase in cooling BTUcapacity may thus allow an air conditioning system 130 and associatedair duct network having an even smaller overall design.

In further embodiments, the two above-described embodiments of thepresent invention may include substantially all the main components thatcan be found in conventional central air conditioning systems of theprior art integrated in a single and compact unit, as described above,for installation in a single location within the living space of aresidence unit. Or, the above-described embodiments of the presentinvention may have selected components distributed in more than onelocation within a living space, with suitably sized and configured airand refrigerant conduits linking the distributed components for theproper operation of the system.

For example, only the first compartment 22, the first air intake duct 30and first air outlet duct 32, as shown in FIG. 1, may be installed in afirst location within a residence unit, while the second compartment 24,the second air outlet duct 38, the air intake silencer box and theair-to-air heat exchanger 46 may be installed in a second locationtherein.

The embodiments of the present invention described above may bemanufactured using a suitable assembly of conventional components andmaterials normally used in the assembly of comparable central airconditioning systems of the prior art.

Thus, there is provided a novel and unobvious system for conditioningthe ambient air of an interior living space. The air conditioningsystems 10 and 130 of the present invention being characterized in thatthey include substantially all the main components that can be found inconventional central air conditioning systems of the prior art, whileoccupying a significantly smaller volume, for example, an up to 60%smaller overall volume, as compared to prior art central airconditioning systems having a comparable BTU capacity and airconditioning characteristics. This economy of volume allowed by thevarious embodiments of the present invention may be achieved with alltheir components integrated in a single and compact unit, or with thevarious components being distributed in more than one place within theliving space of a residence unit.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way ofpreferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departingfrom the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in theappended claims.

1. An air conditioning system using a refrigerant fluid and a coolingliquid, said air conditioning system comprising: a first compartment,said first compartment defining a first air inlet and a first airoutlet; a substantially elongated first air outlet duct in fluidcommunication with said first air outlet, said first air outlet ductdefining a first duct longitudinal axis; a first ventilator operativelycoupled to said first air inlet and said first air outlet for creating afirst air flow through said first compartment and said first air outletduct from said first air inlet through said first air outlet and intosaid first air outlet duct; a first heat exchange unit provided in saidfirst compartment for allowing heat exchange between said refrigerantfluid and said first air flow when said refrigerant fluid is circulatedthrough said first heat exchange unit; a second heat exchange unit alsoprovided in said first compartment for allowing heat exchange betweensaid refrigerant fluid and said first air flow when said refrigerantfluid is circulated through said second heat exchange unit, said secondheat exchange unit being provided downstream from said first heatexchange unit relatively to said first air flow, said second heatexchange unit being in fluid communication with said first heat exchangeunit for allowing circulation of said refrigerant fluid from said secondheat exchange unit to said first heat exchange unit; a third heatexchange unit provided in said first air outlet duct for allowing heatexchange between said refrigerant fluid and said first air flow whensaid refrigerant fluid is circulated through said third heat exchangeunit, said third heat exchange unit being in fluid communication withsaid second heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of saidrefrigerant fluid from said third heat exchange unit to said second heatexchange unit, said third heat exchange unit extending along said firstair outlet duct, said third heat exchange unit being angled with respectto said first duct longitudinal axis; a first liquid sprinkler providedsubstantially adjacent said first and second heat exchange units, saidfirst liquid sprinkler being positioned, configured and sized forsimultaneously sprinkling said cooling liquid onto both said first andsecond heat exchange units; a second compartment, said secondcompartment defining a second air inlet and a second air outlet; asecond ventilator operatively coupled to said second air inlet and saidsecond air outlet for creating a second air flow through said secondcompartment from said second air inlet to said second air outlet; acompressor unit in fluid communication with said third heat exchangeunit for compressing said refrigerant fluid to produce a compressedrefrigerant fluid in gas phase and providing said compressed refrigerantfluid to said third heat exchange unit; an evaporator for evaporatingsaid refrigerant fluid and allowing heat exchange between saidrefrigerant fluid and said second air flow, said evaporator beingprovided in said second compartment substantially across said second airflow, said evaporator being in fluid communication with said compressorunit and said first heat exchange unit for receiving said refrigerantfluid from said first heat exchange unit and releasing said refrigerantfluid to said compressor unit; wherein said second and third heatexchange units are desuperheaters in which said refrigerant fluid iscooled down by said first air flow while remaining gaseous and saidfirst heat exchange unit is a condenser in which said refrigerant fluidcondenses when cooled by said first air flow.
 2. An air conditioningsystem using a refrigerant fluid and a cooling liquid, said airconditioning system comprising: a first compartment, said firstcompartment defining a first air inlet and a first air outlet; asubstantially elongated first air outlet duct in fluid communicationwith said first air outlet, said first air outlet duct defining a firstduct longitudinal axis; a first ventilator operatively coupled to saidfirst air inlet and said first air outlet for creating a first air flowthrough said first compartment and said first air outlet duct from saidfirst air inlet through said first air outlet and into said first airoutlet duct; a first heat exchange unit provided in said firstcompartment for allowing heat exchange between said refrigerant fluidand said first air flow when said refrigerant fluid is circulatedthrough said first heat exchange unit; a second heat exchange unit alsoprovided in said first compartment for allowing heat exchange betweensaid refrigerant fluid and said first air flow when said refrigerantfluid is circulated through said second heat exchange unit, said secondheat exchange unit being provided downstream from said first heatexchange unit relatively to said first air flow, said second heatexchange unit being in fluid communication with said first heat exchangeunit for allowing circulation of said refrigerant fluid from said secondheat exchange unit to said first heat exchange unit; a third heatexchange unit provided in said first air outlet duct for allowing heatexchange between said refrigerant fluid and said first air flow whensaid refrigerant fluid is circulated through said third heat exchangeunit, said third heat exchange unit being in fluid communication withsaid second heat exchange unit for allowing circulation of saidrefrigerant fluid from said third heat exchange unit to said second heatexchange unit, said third heat exchange unit extending along said firstair outlet duct, said third heat exchange unit being angled with respectto said first duct longitudinal axis; and a first liquid sprinklerprovided substantially adjacent said first and second heat exchangeunits, said first liquid sprinkler being positioned, configured andsized for simultaneously sprinkling said cooling liquid onto both saidfirst and second heat exchange units; wherein circulating said first airflow with said first ventilator and circulating said refrigerant fluidfrom said third heat exchange unit, through said second heat exchangeunit and to said first heat exchange unit while sprinkling said firstand second heat exchange units with said cooling liquid cools down saidrefrigerant fluid when said refrigerant fluid is hotter than said firstair flow.
 3. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid second and third heat exchange units are desuperheaters in whichsaid refrigerant fluid cools down while remaining gaseous.
 4. An airconditioning system as defined in claim 2, wherein said first heatexchange unit is a condenser in which said refrigerant fluid condenses.5. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 2, further comprisinga compressor unit in fluid communication with said third heat exchangeunit for compressing said refrigerant fluid to produce a compressedrefrigerant fluid in gas phase and providing said compressed refrigerantfluid to said third heat exchange unit.
 6. An air conditioning system asdefined in claim 5, wherein said compressor unit is provided in saidfirst compartment.
 7. An air conditioning system as defined in claim 5,further comprising a second compartment, said second compartmentdefining a second air inlet and a second air outlet.
 8. An airconditioning system as defined in claim 7, further comprising a secondventilator operatively coupled to said second air inlet and said secondair outlet for creating a second air flow through said secondcompartment from said second air inlet to said second air outlet; anevaporator for evaporating said refrigerant fluid and allowing heatexchange between said refrigerant fluid and said second air flow, saidevaporator being provided in said second compartment, said evaporatorbeing in fluid communication with said compressor unit and said firstheat exchange unit for receiving said refrigerant fluid from said firstheat exchange unit and releasing said refrigerant fluid to saidcompressor unit, said evaporator being located in said secondcompartment across said second air flow.
 9. An air conditioning systemas defined in claim 7, further comprising a second air outlet duct influid communication with said second air outlet; and an air heatingelement provided in said second air outlet duct for selectively heatingsaid second air flow.
 10. An air conditioning system as defined in claim9, wherein said second compartment is provided substantially adjacent tosaid first compartment, said first and second compartments sharing acommon central wall thermally isolating said first and secondcompartments from each other.
 11. An air conditioning system as definedin claim 10, further comprising a air-to-air heat exchanger forexchanging heat between a third air flow and a fourth air flow, saidair-to-air heat exchanger being provided substantially adjacent saidfirst and second compartments and extending substantiallyperpendicularly to said common central wall.
 12. An air conditioningsystem as defined in claim 11, wherein said air-to-air heat exchanger isoperatively coupled to said first and second compartments so that saidthird and fourth air flows are exhausted from said air-to-air heatexchanger respectively in said first and second compartments.
 13. An airconditioning system as defined in claim 10, wherein a portion of saidsecond air flow is directed toward said air-to-air heat exchanger withsaid third air flow to allow heat exchange between said portion of saidsecond air flow and said fourth air flow.
 14. An air conditioning systemas defined in claim 9, further comprising a second liquid sprinklerprovided substantially adjacent said evaporator, said second liquidsprinkler being positioned, configured and sized for sprinkling wateronto said evaporator.
 15. An air conditioning system using a refrigerantfluid and a cooling liquid, said air conditioning system comprising: afirst compartment, said first compartment defining a first air inlet anda first air outlet; a first ventilator operatively coupled to said firstair inlet and said first air outlet for creating a first air flowthrough said first compartment from said first air inlet to said firstair outlet; a first heat exchange unit provided in said firstcompartment for allowing heat exchange between said refrigerant fluidand said first air flow when said refrigerant fluid is circulatedthrough said first heat exchange unit; a second heat exchange unit alsoprovided in said first compartment for allowing heat exchange betweensaid refrigerant fluid and said first air flow when said refrigerantfluid is circulated through said second heat exchange unit, said secondheat exchange unit being provided downstream from said first heatexchange unit relatively to said first air flow, said second heatexchange unit being in fluid communication with said first heat exchangeunit for allowing circulation of said refrigerant fluid from said secondheat exchange unit to said first heat exchange unit; a compressor unitin fluid communication with said second heat exchange unit forcompressing said refrigerant fluid to produce a compressed refrigerantfluid in gas phase and providing said compressed refrigerant fluid tosaid second heat exchange unit; an evaporator for evaporating saidrefrigerant fluid, said evaporator being in fluid communication withsaid compressor unit and said first heat exchange unit for receivingsaid refrigerant fluid from said first heat exchange unit and releasingsaid refrigerant fluid to said compressor unit; wherein said second heatexchange unit is a desuperheater in which said refrigerant fluid iscooled down by said first air flow while remaining gaseous and saidfirst heat exchange unit is a condenser in which said refrigerant fluidcondenses when cooled by said first air flow.
 16. An air conditioningsystem as defined in claim 15, further comprising a first liquidsprinkler provided substantially adjacent said first and second heatexchange units, said first liquid sprinkler being positioned, configuredand sized for simultaneously sprinkling said cooling liquid onto bothsaid first and second heat exchange units.
 17. A method for cooling arefrigerant fluid in an air conditioning system using an air flow, saidmethod comprising: compressing said refrigerant fluid in a gas phase; ina first cooling step subsequent to compressing said refrigerant fluid,cooling said refrigerant fluid by transferring heat from saidrefrigerant fluid to said air flow with said refrigerant fluid remainingin said gas phase; in a second cooling step subsequent to said firstcooling step, cooling said refrigerant fluid by transferring heat fromsaid refrigerant fluid to said air flow with said refrigerant fluidcondensing to a liquid phase; wherein said air flow flows in a mannersuch that said air flow is used first in said second cooling step andthen circulated to be used in said first cooling step.
 18. A method asdefined in claim 17, further comprising evaporating said refrigerantfluid after said second cooling step.
 19. A method as defined in claim18, wherein evaporating said refrigerant fluid after said second coolingstep includes reducing a pressure of said refrigerant fluid.
 20. Amethod as defined in claim 17, wherein said first and second coolingsteps are performed in separate heat exchangers.
 21. A method as definedin claim 17, further comprising cooling said refrigerant fluid bytransferring heat from said refrigerant fluid to a cooling liquid.
 22. Amethod as defined in claim 21, wherein cooling said refrigerant fluid bytransferring heat from said refrigerant fluid to said cooling liquid isperformed substantially simultaneously both with said first and secondcooling steps.